Giving Tuesday 2025
Join us this Giving Tuesday to help grow a healthier, more food-secure community by upgrading our free community grazing beds. Your support can help make fresh, local food accessible for everyone.
Our Goal: $5000
This Giving Tuesday, help us upgrade our free community grazing beds. Together, we can make healthy food available to everyone.
Our Goal: $5,000
Partridge Creek Farm was founded in 2013 with one goal: to connect our community through local food access and education. Over the past 12 years, we’ve grown a thriving 3.5-acre farm, launched free community education programs, built public grazing beds, and deepened our roots right here in Ishpeming all to strengthen food security for our neighbors.
In that time, we’ve proudly served 107 families in our CSA Subscription with fresh, local produce; reached over 500 students through Farm-to-School and youth programs; supported more than 200 seniors through workshops; and donated $1368 worth of fresh food to 289 families through the Salvation Army in Ishpeming. These programs are vital in a community where over 80% of Ishpeming students receive free or reduced lunch and 41% of families are ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed), working hard yet still struggling to meet basic needs.
This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you our community to help us strengthen the foundation of our mission: increasing food access for all.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 to upgrade the FREE Grazing Beds at the Ishpeming Middle School Garden, right in downtown Ishpeming. These beds provide free, fresh food for anyone in need. This year, the Middle School Garden Club will take the lead in tending them, learning how to grow food for their community while building lifelong skills in teamwork, responsibility, and care for others.
Your donation will help us replace these rotting beds and move them to the outer edges of the site to increase accessibility so we can feed even more families each growing season. In 2026, one of our goals is to increase grazing bed signage to increase our reach and help more community members. Together, we can keep Ishpeming growing one garden bed at a time.
How We Serve Our Community:
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CSA Produce Subscription
Since 2022 our weekly CSA produce subscription has served 107 community members. Of those members:
50% of 2025 CSA Members paid just $4.12 weekly for their subscription using Snap/EBT.
76% of our 2025 members said that their weekly subscription helped them eat healthier.
Fresh Food Donations
We partner with the Salvation Army in Ishpeming to donate fresh food to the food pantry year round. In 2024:
289 families received fresh produce
769 individuals received fresh produce
$1368 worth of fresh produce was donated
Fresh Food in the Ishpeming Cafeteria
In 2024, through the Lake Michigan Food Systems Innovation Hub Grant, PCF was able to begin a partnership with Northwoods Test Kitchen, MSU UPREC, MARESA, and Chartwells Food Service to bring fresh PCF grown food to the Ishpeming School District #1 Cafeteria.
In 2024, 5th-12th grade students ate fresh produce grown and harvested right here in Ishpeming during lunch.
Funded by the USDA and administered by the Illinois Public Health Institute
Free Community Grazing Beds
PCF has a total of 11 FREE Community Grazing Beds located at the Community Garden ( 301 E. Euclid St., Ishpeming, MI) and the Ishpeming Middle School Garden (402 Cleveland Ave, Ishpeming, MI).
These beds provide free produce to our community during the growing season. All we ask is that members leave enough food for others to harvest too.
The Community Garden
After a successful 2024 Giving Tuesday campaign thanks to community support PCF was able to purchase the Community Garden site for its 24 members.
Due to community support PCF was also able to make much needed upgrades to the site including the addition of 7 beds to the site. Now, in 2026, 31 community members will be able to grow fresh affordable food for themselves and their families.
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The Community Farm
We broke ground on the Partridge Creek Community Farm in 2022. The Community Farm is a 3.75 acre farm centrally located in downtown Ishpeming.
2024 marked the inaugural growing season. During this season, over 2,500 lbs of food was grown, harvested, and distributed to our community.
This site was developed to help increase food access in our community. In 2024 52% of Farm Stand shoppers used food assistance benefits to purchase fresh food!
The Community Gardens
Partridge Creek Farm has established, and maintains four community gardens situated throughout Ishpeming. These gardens serve as community gather space offering public grazing beds, an outdoor classroom for our farm to school programming, and the foundation for our food production that allows us to feed our community.
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Partridge Creek Farm provides the following free education opportunities for Ishpeming youth.
Farm-to-School Program
The Partridge Creek Farm to School Program teaches students through hands-on learning experiences both outdoors in the Ishpeming Middle School Garden as well as in the kitchen.
Healthy Cooking teaches youth how to cook and eat new healthy foods.
The 5th Grade Farm Stand teaches students how a farmer grows and distributes produce to their community.
In 2025 80 Ishpeming students are receiving hands on education opportunities through the Farm-to-School program.
High School Career Technical Education Horticulture Class
This class began in 2024 at Ishpeming High School taught by PCF’s Education Coordinator, Keats Dormont.
During the winter/spring semester, students will get their hands dirty learning the essentials of regenerative agriculture and permaculture. They'll then closely observe the land to design gardens they'll plant come May and early June.
Ishpeming Middle School Garden Club
TheMiddle School Garden after school club began in the fall of 2025. Students are encouraged to help out and hangout in the Middle School Garden after school.
Homeschool Hangout
Partridge Creek Farm participates in homeschool hangout, an Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library program aimed at connecting homeschool youth and families with one another. Partridge Creek Farm teaches a series educational and fun lessons to these students.
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Workshops
Partridge Creek Farm hosts free community workshops in partnership with the Ishpeming Carnegie Library. each spring these workshops are open to community members of all ages, providing valuable skills for growing your own food.
In 2024, 86% of attendees strongly agreed that the sessions increased their knowledge on the topics (food preservation, garden planning, foraging, and fermentation).
Skill Shares
From June-August community members are invited to enjoy a free skill share, hosted at the same time as the Farm Stand at the Community Farm.
Participants can learn healthy new recipes, a fun new skill, or skill surrounding preserving your food.
Professional Development | Farm to School Institute
PCF invites Education Professionals from Michigan to come to Ishpeming to learn more about incorporating Farm-to-School Programming in their schools. This is a FREE professional development opportunity that aims to increase students’ access to fresh food and hands-on education opportunities.
In 2024, 93% of attendees indicated increased knowledge of Farm-to-School programming and food systems post attendance.
Photo Credits: Top left:Taken by PCF’s Camden Kinnie Middle Schoolers paint the grazing beds. Top right: Photo by PCF’s Camden Kinnie, Middle School Students in garden. Bottom left: Photo by PCF’s Camden Kinnie, PCF’s Food Access Manager waters the grazing beds. Bottom Right: Aerial photo of the Middle School Garden taken by Lindsay Bean.
Your Support Matters | Join Us This Giving Tuesday
Your support this Giving Tuesday is vital! Take time to connect with your community and give back, whether that is a donation to our campaign or a local food pantry.
Photo Credit: taken by Sarah Rypma Photography for Michigan Department of Education / 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farm. PCF’s growing team washes freshly washed produce for our community.
Our Goal: Increasing Food Access in our Community
This Giving Tuesday, we’re shining a spotlight on food insecurity in our community. At Partridge Creek Farm, we’re dedicated to growing fresh, accessible food for everyone, but we know we’re not doing it alone! Local food pantries and other organizations play a crucial role in making sure no one goes hungry. Together, we’re cultivating hope and nourishing our community!
Join Us:
Join us this Giving Tuesday at Congress Pizza to discover how we aim to grow positive change in Ishpeming. Stop by our table to learn how you can also support the Salvation Army’s goal to provide essential resources and food to the community.
Where: Congress Pizza | 106 N Main St Ishpeming
When: Tuesday December 2nd | 4PM-7PM
Who: Everyone is invited to join us! Congress will donate a portion of the proceeds made on Giving Tuesday to PCF’s campaign.
Salvation Army is Looking for the Following Items: Bring them to Congress Pizza on Giving Tuesday or donate them directly at 322 Cleveland Avenue Ishpeming MI 49849
Pet Food
Toilet Paper, Tooth Paste, Personal Hygiene Items
Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil
Coffee
Sugar
Flour
Butter
If you’re not able to join us no worries! Consider ordering take out to support this cause, donate to our Giving Tuesday campaign, OR consider donating to a food pantry or local organization near you.
Community Food Resources:
If you or someone you know is looking for additional food access resources please visit our website page below to learn more or find a food pantry near you.
FAQs
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Partridge Creek Farm grows most of our food from June to October at the Community Farm and Elks Garden.
But, where does all of this food go?
The West End Farm Stand
Join us on Ishpeming’s West End to shop fresh produce grown right at the Partridge Creek Community Farm. A variety of produce will be sold throughout the growing season.
We accept card, cash, Snap/EBT and Food as Medicine Vouchers as payment. Open Wednesdays during the growing season at 550 Cleveland Ave, Ishpeming.
Food Donations
In 2024 PCF launched a partnership with Salvation Army, located just two blocks from our Farm, to distribute fresh, healthy produce to community members in need. As the only donor of fresh produce to their food pantry, which typically receives canned and dry goods, PCF has been able to fill a critical gap in providing nutritious food to our community.
During the winter 90% of food grown in the hoophouse is donated to Salvation Army in Ishpeming.
CSA Produce Subscription
CSA (Community Support Agriculture) subscriptions are purchased before the growing season begins. Why? Because these sales help our growing team prepare for the season. When the season comes all you need to do is pick up the CSA box and enjoy.
Our CSA Subscription Box runs from June - October and features 5-7 different produce types weekly. We accept Snap/EBT as payment.
Ishpeming Cafeteria
Partridge Creek Farm is partnering with Chartwells Food Service Director, Calvin Atwell to establish new lunch menus that allow for increased local food ingredients for the Ishpeming School District cafeterias. We have been piloting this program for the 2024 growing season. Stay tuned for updates!
Wholesale
Partridge Creek Farm believes in providing our community with fresh locally grown produce, which is why we work with local businesses primarily located on the West End of Marquette County.
A few of these businesses include: Velodrome, Strega Nonna, and Kognisjon Brewery.
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PCF is committed to providing our community with access to equitably produced nutritious food. Community Grazing beds are FREE garden beds located outside of the Middle School Garden (402 Cleveland Ave Ishpeming) and the Community Garden (301 E Euclid Ishpeming) where our community is invited to harvest produce for free.
Learn more about community grazing beds here
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The Greenhouse is a new addition to the Ishpeming Middle School Garden. PCF began constructing this structure in summer of 2025 with the help of community volunteers.
This Greenhouse was funded through the Michigan Department of Education Office of Career Technical 61S grant awarded to PCF and the Ishpeming School District #1.
This Greenhouse will be utilized by all ages in the Ishpeming School District, but, will be primarily used by the High School CTE horticulture class as an outdoor classroom to learn about sustainable agriculture practices.
Partridge Creek Farm is grateful for the support of our grant funders, whose contributions enable projects like this to come to fruition. While grant funding is often designated for specific purposes and typically does not cover expenses such as replacing garden beds, these improvements are essential to maintaining a safe and enriching environment for our students’ gardening experience.
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You can help us reach our $5,000 goal this Giving Tuesday by:
Donating to our campaign. Every dollar helps!
Join us at Congress Pizza in Ishpeming on Giving Tuesday, December 2nd to enjoy a pizza and support this campaign.
Sharing this ask to your network via social media, text messaging, or talking to your friends about why you think this is important.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch.
Donate to your local food pantry or donate the following items to Salvation Army in Ishpeming:
Toothpaste, toilet paper, personal hygiene items
Pet Food
Butter
Sugar
Flour
Coffee
Vegetable Oil or Olive oil
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Partridge Creek Farm is committed to ensuring our community has access to fresh, affordable food in our community.
Our Farm Stand is Open June-October each season. We accept SNAP/EBT as payment, Food as Medicine, and Senior Project Fresh.